Salivary Duct Carcinoma of the Accessory Parotid Gland

Abstract

Objective: 1) Present a rare case of salivary duct carcinoma of the accessory parotid gland (APG). 2) Understand the current prevalence, diagnosis, and management of benign and malignant tumors of the APG.Method: This study includes a case presentation and literature review. The literature review included articles from October 1966 to January 2010 and included all cases of accessory parotid gland tumors in adults.Results: One hundred and nineteen cases with 19 different tumor types were reported in the accessory parotid gland (APG). Pleomorphic adenoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma represented 50% and 23%, respectively. There were no previously reported salivary duct carcinomas of the APG. Forty percent of APG neoplasms were malignant. This malignancy rate was comparable to previous studies reporting a higher rate of malignant tumors in the APG compared with 15% to 20% in parotid tumors. A standard parotidectomy remains the preferred approach with less risk to the facial nerve compared with direct cheek re...